Q+A: Light-on-Dark Text? Or Dark-on-Light?

Q:
Light text on a dark background? Designer gimmick! Museum labels with dark text on a light background are always better! Just look at books! And newspapers!

A:
Yes, dark text on light is the standard for print media. Partly because paper is light-colored. But museum labels aren’t books. Lighting, visitor movement, and immersion come into play. Light-on-dark can be better in theatrical exhibits, for example, where bright labels would distract.

Q:
People can’t read light text on dark for long periods! Studies prove it!

A:
Well, studies do suggest that long passages of light-on-dark text can be harder to read for some because of “halation.” That’s when light letters seem to blur and glow. But museum labels should not be long anyway. And in dark spaces, light-on-dark text reduces overall glare.

Q:
Aha! So visitors with do have a harder time reading light text on dark!

A:
No, only some do. Actually, visitors with cataracts may find light-on-dark easier to read, while people with halation from astigmatism may prefer the opposite.

Here’s the thing:

Light-on-dark text, or dark-on-light? There is no universal solution. Use a mix of both strategically, based on space, lighting, and visitor experience.

Warmly,
Jonathan

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MtM Word of the Day:
Halation. [hay-LAY-shun] In text labels, an effect where light text on a dark background can appear to have a blurry glow for people with certain impairments (e.g., astigmatism). Note: some impairments favor light-on-dark (e.g., cataracts).